The number of COVID patients at The University of Kansas Health System rose slightly over the weekend. 18 with the active virus are being treated, up from 16 Friday. Only one is vaccinated. Five patients are in the ICU, down from seven on Friday. Four are on ventilators, up from one on Friday. 19 other patients are still hospitalized because of COVID but are out of the acute infection phase, down from 22 Friday. That’s a total of 37 patients, down from 38 Friday. HaysMed reports four active COVID patients and six in the recovery phase.
On today’s Morning Medical Update, it was a big day for eight-year-old Russell, who’s been wanting to get vaccinated for a long time and agreed to do it live on our show. We also took a closer look at vaccination rates and efforts in Wyandotte county with Doctor Allen Greiner, Unified Government Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Michael Lewis, a pediatrician at The University of Kansas Health System, discussed the latest predictions as we head towards the winter months.
Russell is an enthusiastic eight year old, with big plans. He lost a grandfather to COVID, and ever since has been begging his mom, Carla, to get vaccinated, even asking if he could be in a clinical trial. He didn’t qualify, but the big day finally came today, as he came to our studio to get his shot live on the air. His enthusiasm, as is very common in kids, suddenly left him when he caught sight of the needle. Two caring pediatric nurses and his mom did their best to comfort and distract Russell, but he ultimately had to leave the studio to collect his thoughts in the hallway. As the show went on with the guests, our camera eavesdropped on everyone working with Russell. Finally, with lots of encouragement, Russell got his shot, at 17:10 on the video, and you should see the happy dance he did in the hallway! Later he came back to the studio to let everyone know he feels great being vaccinated and is looking forward to a trip to Sky Zone. His mom says she’s happy he’ll be ready for Christmas and will be back in a few weeks for his second shot.
Dr. Greiner explained that Russel’s experience is typical and one reason mass vaccine clinics for kids don’t always work as well as for adults. He says doctor’s offices are usually the best setting for kids to get vaccinated. But Wyandotte County is offering a free walk-in clinic for all every Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the old K-Mart at 78th and State. Those clinics are vital, he says, because Wyandotte County currently lags the national average in vaccine rates for both children and adults and has a vulnerable population with a lot of chronic disease. He also noticed flu shot uptake is down in the county. He addressed the reasons some minorities in the county might be hesitant to get the vaccine. He also stressed that masks in schools will still be recommended, though he admits, “The political will for that is sort of waning.”
Dr. Lewis says he hears all the time from people who believe the vaccine came out too quickly. But he says on the contrary, it did not come out too quickly, and the dose, which is a third of what those 12 and older receive, has proven safe and effective for the five to 11- year-olds. He explained that last year when masks were universal, pediatricians didn’t see a lot of the typical childhood illnesses. Now, however, RSV, rhinovirus, asthma, croup and others are surging. He’s a big proponent of keeping kids masked at school, where they do best. Otherwise, he says it will be back to online learning. He worries with mask mandates ending, not enough vaccinations and everyone going indoors for winter, we may see a surge of cases in both kids and adults over the winter
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Dana Hawkinson, MD, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at The University of Kansas Health System, says 14 days after getting a flu shot, you should have full protection, just like with most vaccines. He says flu activity is low so far this year, but usually starts to pick up in January. He noted that kids like Russell can go back to school immediately after getting their COVID vaccine. He advises everyone to protect the people in their individual bubble, and says the best way is for everyone in it to get vaccinated and be aware of high-risk situations over the upcoming holiday season.
Tuesday, November 16 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update.
Many are wondering what the next few months will look like across the region...as the holidays kick in and people are huddled indoors. Dr. Catherine Satterwhite, with Health and Human Services, along with Dawn O'Connell, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response will join us with an update on COVID here in our region and what current case number mean now and as we head toward another year.
NOTE: Journalists should rejoin the Morning Medical Update at 8am as doctors are growing too busy again for individual interview requests. Please bring questions or send to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu until further notice. Thanks for all you do and helping to keep the community safe with your reporting.
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